The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-07-17
AID. ELLI0TT'S ESCAPADE.
HIS PECULIAR GREETING OF MRS.
ORTHER PROVOKED TIE ROW.

A Variety of stories as to What He Did 70
Her-she says He Pressed Her Head
to Table and struck Her with
Drunken Freedom with His High Hat.
Alderman Walter Fl. Elliott was at the
bar of Police Justice Stilsings Court on
Oakland avenue yesterday morning. He
had ridden into public prominence by his
desertion of his party in the Aldermanic
deal, and by the assistance he gave the
Republicans, Democrat though he is, in
eiecting Alderman Salinger to the Presi-
dency of the Board. The offense for
which he was arraigned yesterday morn
ing was alleged Drunkenness andidisorderiy
conduct, and the charge was preferred BY
Health Officer Hartmann, who has just
figured as defendant in charge of bribery
preferred against him by Scavenger Clock.
A variety of stories are told of the circum-'
stances attending the arrest From the
best information the reporters of this
paper have been able to CLEAN, the case is
about this:
Hartmann had been on trial before the
Police Board Friday evening on Clocks
bribery charges. Through some mys-
FERROUS influence the Board dismissed them
and made Mr. Hartmann feel pretty good.
Alt6I LIS hCQultthl AO was AcdEQ ndhlDS
noisy Remuneration of the Clocks, and a
little later in the evening he started for the
Hill to celebrate his victory. He was
joined by George Ortner, an ex-saloon
keeper, and Mrs. Ortner, and together they
sat in a saloon on Palisade avenue within
stone throw of franklin, when Alderman
Elliott entered Elliott had been N king
round of the saloons, and had imbibed
more freely than is his habit. When he
saw Mrs. Ortner he remembered that she
had frequently been in her husbands sa-
loon when he kept one, and had been a
free and easy kind Of kail-felow-well
met companion for the frequenters,
and IS he had done in old times, he
approached her to ask her to join in
a smile. According to one account Elliott
epcircled her neck with his arm, without
protest from the husband; but afterwards
made him angry by putting his arm around
Ortner's neck and trying to kiss him.
Another story is that Ortner became indig-
nant when Elliott fondled Mrs. Ortner
Still a third is that Elliott merely rested
his hand on Mrs. Ortners shoulder. What
ever the truth, Ortner finally slapped his
face, and soon afterwards went out with his
WIFE Hartmann meanwhile asked the
Alderman up to have drink, and while
they were imbibing, 0rtner, who had
started his wife homeward, returned. His
Dutch was up, and he began an alteration
with Elliott Elliott was surprised to see
Hartmann desert him, andjoi in abusing
him. The first thing he knew, Hartmann
had struck him and j knocked him
down. Then he lifted him to his
feet by his collar andks lu 1ely Jostled
him along to the Webster avenue police
station. Ex-Alderman Harry Powell and
Constable Fred. j. MersAeimer followed
them down, and join in saying that Hart
mann used the Alderman with needless
harshness. Sergeant Robarts took the
charge, and Elliott is said 10 have been
locked up for half an hour.f joseph D.
Wisharett, friend who was with him, was
also locked lup. Both were released after
time-the Alderman it is states Son his
own parole.
When the two prisoners were arraigued
yesterday Justice Wanser became convinc-
ed that Hartmann was as much intoxicated
as the Alderman; and that Hartmann had
no right to arrest him, after knocking him
down in drunken row Hartmann tried
to convince the Court that though an Of
ficer ia uniform-Hartmann was in uni
form-had perfect right to get drunk,
City Father had not, but the Court would
not be convinced. Ha not only let the
prisoners go, but he even offered to accept
a charge of assault and battery against the
policeman. Elliott had no desire to press
the matter however, and SO the case
ended
The incident provoked no end Of talk in
the Hudson City section yesterday after
noon, and so much interest was manifested
in the matter that reporter of The NEWS
was detailed to see all the parties to the
controversy Alderman Elliott was no.
where to be found. 1t was said that he
left the court room only to continue his
spree
Mrs. Ortner was seen at her home, No
1856 Palisade avenue last night. She said;
.'As the house was so close, l thought
would sit out at the front door in order to
catch the air. After while my husband
said he was going across the street to
Hitzeps wine room for a glass of wine.
The place is one where ladies go, and |
went along. Some time after we had
taken our seats at the table some one came
into the room, and grasped me by the head
and having pressed my face to the table
hit me three times on the neck with
his high white hat. I was so taken by sur
prise that / could not speak, when George
jumped up and asked the man what he
meant. Then I saw that it was Alderman
Elliott who had hit me. | saw him grasp
George by the shirt front when my hus-
band knocked him down left the room
and went home 50 that l would not be
there if a fight took place"
Mr.. Ortner corroborsted this story and
added that after Elliott had left his table
be went to Mr. Buck, the tailor, who sat at
the other side of the table and hit him the
same way. 81 then got up and asked him
what he meant by such doiDgs to my wife,
DINER confined, ''when he took me by the
collar and SAID that he would lick me.
did not walt to get licked, so | knocked
him down. He got up, when I knocked
him down again. Officer Hartmann, whom
We have known for twenty years. interfsred.
when Elliott turned to him and said, 'Yon
| - - - what are Won doing here 2